Favourites Nickle Bag and Sandbetweenurtoes delivered on their pari-mutuel promises in Woodbine Racetrack's co-featured Preferred events on Saturday night (December 3).

Despite being parked through a quick-opening quarter, Nickle Bag persevered in the evening's $34,000 Preferred Pace for driver Trevor Henry and trainer Bill Robinson.

Evenin Of Pleasure (James MacDonald) got the first call from the inside post while Nickle Bag and Alexas Jackpot (Phil Hudon) left from posts five and six, respectively. Alexas Jackpot sprinted ahead and crossed to command before Nickle Bag took over after a :25.4 opener. As he led the way to the half in :55.1, Andreios Kardia (Doug McNair) tipped out from mid-pack in search of his fifth straight victory. He worked up alongside the leader on the way to three-quarters in 1:22.4, but Nickle Bag dug in down the stretch despite a minor misstep and pulled clear to score in 1:50.3. Alexas Jackpot followed one and a quarter lengths behind in second while Andreios Kardia settled for third.

Nickle Bag paid $4.70 to win as the 6-5 favourite.

The Preferred star is enjoying a career-year having earned 13 wins, 10 seconds and eight thirds from 37 starts in 2016 while banking over $364,000 for owners Linda Loyens of Denfield, Ont., and Harry Loyens of Ilderton, Ont. Lifetime, the six-year-old Rocknroll Hanover-Buckle Bunni gelding has won 32 races and almost $824,000 in purses.

In the $30,000 distaff division, the Richard Moreau stable swept the top two spots, with Sandbetweenurtoes and catch-driver Doug McNair leading the way.

McNair had Sandbetweenurtoes pointed to the top off the gate from post five and cleared stablemate Wrangler Magic (Sylvain Filion), who had left just to their inside, at the :26.2 first quarter mark. The favourite then cruised through middle splits of :55.2 and 1:23.3 while Waasmula (Trevor Henry) launched out from midfield during the third panel. However, Sandbetweenurtoes had already begun to extend her lead turning for home and could not be caught by her pursuers, winning by three and a half lengths in 1:50.4. Wrangler Magic held for second over Waasmula.

A winner last time out in the Mares Preferred on November 19, Sandbetweenurtoes was sent postward at odds of 8-5 in Saturday's affair and paid $5.50 to win.

Trained by Moreau for owner Bradley Grant of Milton, Ont., Sandbetweenurtoes improved her 2016 record to 8-5-3 in 27 starts while her annual income climbed over the $200,000 mark. The win was the 21st lifetime for the five-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-Als Girl mare, who has amassed over $780,000 in purses.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.